Austin Channing Brown
Next level anti-racist memoir
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. This book is powerful. It is “next level.” In fact, I would say it is the next level in our journey as human beings toward anti-racism within our world.
Austin Channing Brown, an African American woman, named like a white man, understands and explains racism toward Black people in America in ways I’ve never understood and think many white people are oblivious to. She addresses white supremacy, white privilege, white ignorance, white fragility, white guilt, white shame. Every chapter was like a sucker punch to the gut. I couldn’t put this book down.
This book caused me to repent of things like white supremacy and privilege because I am white and even though I am not American, I can see how this plays out in Australia too. But now that I live in America, I don’t want to be part of white racism against Black people. I don’t want to be part of the problem, and this book will teach anyone just how humungous the problem really is.
My two favorite chapters were 4 and 5. I read chapter four to my husband (who is white American) and he was reeling. We were both shocked as we learned how Black history is bypassed in school curriculums; how we white people have a tendency to run away from our complicit guilt—to deny what our ancestors have done to Black people, people of other races and the Indigenous. I cried as she touched on the history of lynching. I resonated with the sentiments of the white person who said, “Doing nothing is no longer an option for me.”
Chapter five explained how many unidentified racist behaviors and comments can occur within one short day in the workplace. A white woman touching a Black woman’s hair without permission. White people assuming that Black people are poor and must be looking for the “outreach center,” rather than recognizing a co-worker or the possibility that this is your co-worker! White people showing offence when Black people don’t eat with them or are wearing headphones while working, even though the White people also use headphones. Black people being told by the boss about email complaints and asked how they can perform better, instead of asking how the White person might perform better and be kinder to the Black person! When a Black person expresses any form of negativity its interpretation is exaggerated by the White person. Using the Black employee to educate White people about racial issues. Thinking that all Black people look the same and mistaking one Black colleague for another. White colleagues interpreting Black colleagues to other white colleagues in order for their ideas to be considered or accepted.
Every white American needs to read this book. And other white, western cultures would benefit from it too. Black people will love this book and hopefully find a little healing and comradery in its pages. They may also become angry as they realize just how much racism persists.
Phenomenal book, thank you Austin. PS, I love your name!